Gymnastic device



e. ALCOVER GYMNASTIC DEVICE Filed Sept. 29, 1955 Oct. 20, 1959 INVENTOK m/ K E w m M A A E k R United States Patent GYMNASTIC DEVICE Gabriel Alcover, Paris, France, assignor to Picas International Limited, East Sheen, London, England Application September 29, 1955, Serial No. 537,493

Claims priority, application France September 29, 1954 3 Claims. (Cl. 272-79) This invention relates generally to improvements in gymnastic devices and more particularly to such devices which are operable by the hands of the operator.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a gymnastic device by which the simultaneous working of a group of muscles obtained by appropriate movements therewith produces a healthy condition in the operator.

It is a further object of the present invention to establish the natural equilibrium of the muscles in their natural reflexes by the instrumentality of a gymnastic device.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a device by which the obtained movements of the body and limbs will have a relaxing effect.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a device whereby the muscular work which is accomplished thereby is based on the extension, elongation and contraction simultaneously and consecutively of the groups of muscles working in order to counteract the imbalance of the body in which the center of gravity has been voluntarily brought about outside of the article of support.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds, it being understood, however, that it is not intended that the invention be limited to the exact details described herein which illustrate the production of a satisfactory example of many which may be obtained as a result of the knowledge gained. through or gleaned from an understanding of the invention; and it is further intended that there be included as part of the invention all such obvious changes and modifications thereof as would occur to a person skilled in the art to which this invention pertains and as would fall within the scope of the following claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a gymnastic device according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in section of the lower portion of the device located at the corner formed by a wall and floor of a room;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammaticperspeotive view of the device in operation; and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the handle portion of the device in a modified form.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing there is disclosed a pair of handles 1 each of which has at one extremity thereof a spherical portion 2 and at the other extremity thereof a handle 3 from which depends a strap 10. The spherical extremity 2 is contained in a socket 8 made of any suitable material which is secured in a recess in the base 4 by any suitable means. Handle 1 may be made of metal or any other suitable material and base 4 may be made of wood or any other suitable material. It is apparent that extremity Z'and socket 8 constitute a ball-joint connection. Base 4 may be triangular in section as shown in the drawing, one side 5 of it being vertical, a side 6 horizontal, and a side 7 slant- Patented Oct. 20, 1959 ECC ing. Secured to the faces 5 and 6 of triangular base 4 are a plurality of resilient members or cushions 9 which are adapted to be adhesively or otherwise secured to the wall member M and floor member S. It is understood that the members 9 may be in the form of suction cups.

Fig. 4 illustrates a modified form of the elongate arm 1, which comprises telescopic sections 1', 1", and 1", adapting the device for adjustment to the size of the person operating the device.

It is preferable to arrange the arm 1 at the ball joint to move in the ball socket through an angle of substantially 30. Figs. 1 and 3 illustrate the possible movements of the device. It is apparent that the device can be positioned at any intersection of a wall M and a floor S.

In operation, the user puts his hands through the loops formed by straps 10 and grasps the handles 3. He then steps back from the base 4 for a distance sufficient to unbalance his own body, as illustrated in Fig. 3, so that he must support himself by his hands, through the intermediary of the rigid arms 1, in order to keep from falling to the ground. The variable distance between the handles 3, due to the mobility of the arms 1 in their sockets 8, enables the user to carry out various movements with his hands and arms, thereby exercising his leg and arm muscles as well as his backbone.

Although the drawing and the above specification disclose the best mode in which I have contemplated em- 'bodying my invention, I desire in no way to be limited to details of such disclosure, for in the further practical application of my invention many changes in the form and proportion may be made as circumstances require or experience suggests without departing from the spirit of the invention within the scope of the appended claims. Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A gymnastic device for use in performing physical exercises, comprising a base member having a vertical rear surface, a horizontal bottom surface and an inclined forward face, said vertical rear surface and horizontal bottom surface serving as seating surfaces against the wall and floor respectively, a pair of sockets disposed adjacent each other in said inclined forward face, said sockets opening in a direction which is obliquely upwards away from the seating angle formed at the junction of said vertical rear surface and said horizontal bottom surface, a pair of rigid, independently movable arms, said arms each being provided at one end thereof with enlarged spherical portions, and at the other end thereof with grip portions adapted to be held by the hand, said enlarged spherical portions being mounted in said sockets forming a universal joint which permits free, independent, pivotal movement of said arms in any direction, said arms having a length suflicient to permit a user without stooping to grasp the upper ends of the rods and to lean thereon to support himself in an off-balance position.

2. A gymnastic device according to claim 1 wherein the said arms are each provided at their upper end with a looped strap adapted to receive the hand of the user.

3. A gymnastic device according to claim 1 wherein both rear and bottom surfaces of said base are provided with resilient cushioning means adapted to engage the surface of a wall and of a floor respectively.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 906,763 Winship Dec. 15, 1908 1,535,391 Anderson Apr. 28, 1925 2,219,948 Bundy Oct. 29, 1940 

